Rain Hurts

[Ben Shelton]

Michael Rigsby, Todd Turner, and myself talk about our most painful rainouts. What's your most painful?

http://www.onedirt.com/features/rain-hurts/

- Ben

[WVRACEFAN]

My most painfull rainout was by far the Million to win race at Eldora, seeing all those haulers & no race.

[cmmg42]

I would have to agree with you WVRACEFAN, having the million dollar race rainout was painful. But, at least we got to see the next year.

[WisWildManFan]

It was either 2002 or 2003. It was my 1st road trip with my dad after I got my drivers license and first car. We heading out to Eldora for a summer nationals race I think it was. We left one day early to stop at kokomo for a non wing race. It was perfect for us since it was directly on the way. We left that morning and it rained for the first 3 hours of the trip. We had both realized that we were going to get rained out so are spirits were down. Then an hour from the track the sun popped out. We once again got excited. We got to the track to see the sprints unloaded and ready in the pits. The track looked tacky not soupy. We were both pumped because we had never been there and this track looked very impressive visually. They ened up calling the race with the sun shining. I believe it was because no one was in the stands. Sucked. I'm currently on a 30 race without a rain out streak. Only one in recent years that stung was opening night of Lucas Oil at Lasalle for a 2 day show they planned. Seeing the cars lined up to pack the track and then the calling of it because the track was "shifting". Seeing bloomer spin his car around in disgust was the sign it was called. It worked out ok for us though because we hightailed it over to Grundy Co and got to watch Richie Bickle stuff someone going into turn 3 on the white flag lap after he was roughed up in 1 and 2. Felt pretty funny with 5 guys in DLM tees at an asphalt race.

[allWIS1]

All rainouts hurt. You work all week and anticipate the weekend. Start watching the weather just to see that it is not very promising. I know this is talking about big shows but a lot of little hurts adds up to one big pain. How's the weather looking this weekend?

[TackyTracker]

2007 World 100... Lot's of excitement for this race as 06 was best ever race IMO... Anyway it absolutely poured and there was water everywhere in the campground and ended up having to be pulled out by tractor just to get to the road... Not many people stayed so we got to see Jimmy O win a day race

[bullring]

It was either 2002 or 2003. It was my 1st road trip with my dad after I got my drivers license and first car. We heading out to Eldora for a summer nationals race I think it was. We left one day early to stop at kokomo for a non wing race. It was perfect for us since it was directly on the way. We left that morning and it rained for the first 3 hours of the trip. We had both realized that we were going to get rained out so are spirits were down. Then an hour from the track the sun popped out. We once again got excited. We got to the track to see the sprints unloaded and ready in the pits. The track looked tacky not soupy. We were both pumped because we had never been there and this track looked very impressive visually. They ened up calling the race with the sun shining. I believe it was because no one was in the stands. Sucked. I'm currently on a 30 race without a rain out streak. Only one in recent years that stung was opening night of Lucas Oil at Lasalle for a 2 day show they planned. Seeing the cars lined up to pack the track and then the calling of it because the track was "shifting". Seeing bloomer spin his car around in disgust was the sign it was called. It worked out ok for us though because we hightailed it over to Grundy Co and got to watch Richie Bickle stuff someone going into turn 3 on the white flag lap after he was roughed up in 1 and 2. Felt pretty funny with 5 guys in DLM tees at an asphalt race.

It was Gas City Speedway not Kokomo.

[MRM]

I have two, both were at Atomic.

The first was in 2002 when they put on the Thunder 100 that paid $25,000 to win. It was a stacked field. Rain started sometime around qualifying on Friday night and continued into Saturday. The race was rescheduled for the following week, but many of the big names didn't return because of other events that weekend.

The second was in 2003. The Xtreme series was there for the annual Labor Day weekend race. This one paid $20,000 to win. Qualifying and heats went off as planned on Saturday night. It rained Sunday and the decision was made to run the consis and feature on Monday AFTERNOON. Needless to say, it was a train race after 20 laps. It was personally disappointing for me for I had just bought my first digital camera and this was the first big race I got to use it. Shooting a day race isn't much of a challenge, so what was disappointing.

[Dante Toledo, OH]

2007 World 100... Lot's of excitement for this race as 06 was best ever race IMO... Anyway it absolutely poured and there was water everywhere in the campground and ended up having to be pulled out by tractor just to get to the road... Not many people stayed so we got to see Jimmy O win a day race

That was my last race in a tent. Bought a pop up the next spring. But that night sucked bad

[cjp0354]

I'll tell ya hurt. I've been to Eldora twice 2007 World. Rained out watched Owens win a day race. 2010 Dream watched Moyer win a day race. I'm going back for my third time for this year's World. I always said if I have to watch three day races in a row I won't go back but we all know that isn't true.

[Scott Boesel]

The million ,07 world and 2011 hillbilly sucked for me

[IZZOJR16]

first time I was going to get a change to see Scott Bloomquist race. 1997 Brownstown. I believe at the time he just switched to the yin-yang decals as well, it was the first generic look of it, just black&white with yin=yang. SO PUMPED TO SEE HIM AND THAT CAR ..... Good news, I did get my chance the next year

[RiffRaf67]

(Sprint car fan, so y'all will just have to forgive me. Also a troll here for many years, but this thread here made me reg.)

My most heartbreaking rain out was early 2000s, Brushcreek was going to have Allstars vs Woo Sprints in an ohio challenge. REALLY wanted to see that show, but it canceled before hot laps.
(and i dont consider it a "rain out" unless i am foolish enough to be there and it gets canceled)

2 other honorable mentions, both at the hands of the former allstar ownership.
Eldora All star show in 2004 or 2005: Forecast called for 100% rain leading up to the event, but come that morning it all cleared out. Drove all the way up there to find Blue Skies and sunshine and an empty parking lot!
And most recently, last years labor day w/e Allstar show at Wayne county. Again, a bad forecast, but it cleared out. Never a good sign when you are driving to the track and see haulers coming back atcha! I think they easily could have gotten that one in, but blame it on all the drama that happened there in the Spring Allstar race and management didnt want to deal with that all over again....

[Clayton_Wetter]

Oh such stories of tragic hardships!!!!

[Car Biz]

My most painfull rainout was by far the Million to win race at Eldora, seeing all those haulers & no race.

Yup I have to agree. I remember busting a** to help put in a new motor for that race. Never got to go to the race the next year